Kosovo talks may be completed successfully: Moscow

As the UN Security Council is meeting next week to discuss the Kosovo troika report on the province’s status, Moscow believes compromise is still possible.

The Security Council has accepted Russia's proposal to invite both sides to the negotiating table.

This week the Contact Group consisting of Russia, the U.S. and the EU submitted a report to the UN Security Council saying the parties have failed to reach an agreement on Kosovo's status.

An apparent renewal of negotiations was partially instigated after Kosovans hinted they'd declare independence anyway, despite opposition from Serbia.

However, Russia believes a negotiated compromise solution is still possible.

“The members of the Security Council and the two parties should realise that there is a good possibility for the talks to be completed successfully. We believe this chance must be taken,” Russia's Ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said.

Meanwhile, the Greek Prime Minister, Costas Karamanlis, says the Kosovo issue should not set an international precedent and should address the concerns and interests of other countries. He says his country will take into account the Republic of Cyprus when discussing Kosovo's possible independence.

The island is divided into two parts, the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus and the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Turkey.